Business Side of Music
The Business Side of Music podcast features interviews with leading industry professionals and working musicians, offering real-world advice to help artists grow their careers and incomes. Founded by Tom Sabella and Traci Snowe in 2008, the show has a rich legacy of empowering musicians. For many years, the podcast was hosted by Bob Bender, a respected industry veteran known for his work with Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, and Curb Records. Bob's passing in 2023 left a lasting impact, and we continue to honor his legacy. Today, the podcast is hosted by Sarah Fleshner, a music industry professional with over 12 years of experience in artist management, live sound, touring, and business development. As owner of 362 Entertainment, Sarah brings fresh insights while carrying forward the show's mission: pulling back the curtain on the business side of music and helping artists succeed.
Episodes
Most artists sign with a manager and have no idea what they're actually agreeing to. In this episode, Sarah sits down with James Hodgin, an artist manager since 1995 who has worked with Thousand Foot Krutch, Chris August, Zane Williams, Kylie Rae Harris, and has managed Michael Martin Murphy since 2018 — taking his Spotify audience from 75,000 to 850,000 monthly listeners.
James breaks down what actually makes an artist-manage...
Jorge Brea has spent 20 years watching songs succeed and fail at scale. As founder and CEO of Symphonic, he's distributed over two million songs, and in this episode he gets refreshingly honest about what actually separates the records that break through from the ones that disappear.
Sarah and Jorge dig into the three things breakthrough songs have in common, why release day is the start of your campaign and not the finish line, and...
Music videos are no longer just promotional tools. In today's music industry, they are one of the most powerful ways to drive discovery, build fandom, and create new revenue streams.
In this episode of The Business Side of Music, Sarah Fleshner sits down with Jordan Glickson, Vice President of Music and Talent at VEVO, to discuss how artists can use visual content to grow their careers in 2026 and beyond.
Jordan shares how VEVO appro...
What does it really take to build power in the music industry?
In this episode of The Business Side of Music, host Sarah Fleshner sits down with renowned entertainment attorney, activist, author, and artist advocate Dina LaPolt for a candid conversation about the evolving music business and what artists need to know to protect their careers.
From her unconventional journey as a musician-turned-lawyer to helping shape landmark legisla...
In this episode of Business Side of Music, host Sarah Fleshner sits down with Stephen Parker, Executive Director of the National Independent Venue Association, for an in-depth conversation about the growing controversy surrounding concert industry monopolization, ticketing fees, artist touring control, and the future of independent music venues.
From rising ticket prices and restrictive tour routing to venue consolidation and the ch...
In this episode of Business Side of Music, host Sarah Fleshner sits down with artist manager and branding expert Leigh Holt to break down what it really takes to build a sustainable career in today’s music industry. From artist management and tour chaos to leadership, team building, and execution over perfection, this conversation is packed with real-world insights for independent artists, managers, and music entrepreneurs.
Le...
What does it really take to build a long-term career in the music industry?
In this special anniversary solo episode of The Business Side of Music, host Sarah Fleshner reflects on one year behind the mic and dives into the realities of staying in the music business—beyond the highlights, viral moments, and sold-out shows.
From artist development to tour life, this episode breaks down the three critical pillars of longevity:
- ...
What does it really take to build a sustainable music career? In this episode of The Business Side of Music Podcast, Sarah Fleshner talks with Dillon Carmichael about navigating Nashville, overcoming early setbacks, and turning talent into a long-term career.
Dillon shares insider lessons on artist development, building the right team, touring strategies, songwriting, and growing fans organically. If you’re an aspiring musicia...
Most independent artists focus on making music and plan to figure out the business side later—but that approach can lead to missed income and unnecessary headaches.
In this solo episode of The Business Side of Music, host Sarah Fleshner shares key steps independent artists can take to properly set up the foundation of their music business. Drawing from over a decade of experience in the music industry, Sarah walks through prac...
What separates a good live performance from a show that builds lifelong fans?
In this episode of Business Side of Music, host Sarah Fleshner sits down with live music producer Amy Wolter of Tom Jackson Productions to break down the psychology behind unforgettable concerts. From stage presence and authority to setlist strategy and audience connection, this conversation unpacks how artists can design intentional “moments” ...
In this solo episode of Business Side of Music, host Sarah Fleshner breaks down the step-by-step touring framework every independent artist needs to tour professionally, even without a big team.
You’ll learn how to:
• Build a professional EPK that booking agents actually open
• Write a booking email that gets responses
• Use data (Spotify for Artists, Bandsintown, Songkick) to choose the right markets
• Route and o...
In this episode of Business Side of Music, host Sarah Fleshner breaks down 5 moves artists should make to start the year strong from a business-first perspective.
This episode kicks off a new monthly series focused on clarity, strategy, and momentum for independent artists and music professionals. Sarah shares practical insights on defining your business identity, owning your data, understanding where your income really comes from, ...
In this episode of The Business Side of Music, host Sarah Fleshner sits down with legendary artist manager and music tech investor Scott Welch — the man behind careers for Paula Abdul, Alanis Morissette, Collective Soul, and more. Together, they pull back the curtain on what it really takes to build artists and careers in today's algorithm-driven music industry.
Scott shares brutally honest insights on artist development, mus...
In this episode, we sit down with Shelia Shipley Biddy, CFO and Certified Senior Advisor at Music Health Alliance, to explore how this remarkable organization is helping protect, heal, and support the people behind the music.
Shelia shares how M...
In this episode of The Business Side of Music Podcast, NAMM President & CEO John Mlynczak shares what it takes to put on the world's largest music trade show. We cover NAMM's year-round opportunities, music industry innovations, and the impact of AI on the future of music. Perfect for artists, managers, and music business professionals looking to stay ahead.
...In this episode of The Business Side of Music, host Sarah Fleshner sits down with Nikki Sanz, founder and CEO of Giggs, the platform revolutionizing how talent gets hired in the live event industry. Nikki shares her journey from an aspiring tour manager to a tech entrepreneur, opening up about the challenges facing today's...
On this episode of Business Side of Music, we sit down with Hamilton Byrd, Senior Talent Buyer for Venue in Colorado Springs, CO. Hamilton dives into what makes a show successful from the venue's perspective, how artists can catch a talent buyer's attention, and why routing, budgeting, and building real industry relationships are key to getting booked. If you're an artist, manager, or industry pro, this is your backst...
In this episode of The Business Side of Music, we sit down with country music royalty Pam Tillis. Grammy winner, Grand Ole Opry member, and business-savvy artist who's done it all with grace and grit.
Pam pulls back the curtain on what it's really like navigating the music industry as the daughter of a legend, carving out her ow...
In this special episode of The Business Side of Music, we sit down with Dan Rogers, the Executive Producer of the Grand Ole Opry, to celebrate the Opry's 100-year anniversary — a century of shaping country music history.
In this heartfelt farewell episode of The Business Side of Music Podcast, we say goodbye to our host, mentor, and friend, Bob Bender. As we close this chapter, we reflect on the incredible journey, invaluable lessons, and unforgettable moments shared with our listeners. Thank you for being part of this community and for supporting the podcast through the years. Join us as we celebrate Bob's legacy and bid a fond farewell to the sho...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Former Bachelor Clayton Echard’s casual one-night fling turned into a paternity nightmare. When the news broke about the scandal, no one believed Clayton at first. He was a reality TV star, and an unpopular one at that. Clayton found himself trying to prove the truth, while trapped in a web of lies, manipulation, and threats. He would soon discover he was not the only one. At its core, this is a story about who you believe and why. It’s an epic battle that would take a group of strangers, citizen sleuths from across the world, to crack the case and finally hold someone accountable. New episodes of Love Trapped are released every Thursday, starting February 26th, 2026. If you would like to reach out to the Love Trapped team, email us at lovetrappedpod@gmail.com and follow along on Instagram @glasspodcasts.